NRI MURDER: Police arrests wife, her paramour for murder of Indian-origin man from Kerala in Australia

September 02, 2016 11:50 AM

MELBOURNE: Ten months after the death of an Indian-origin man, Australian police have arrested his wife and her paramour for allegedly poisoning him with cyanide.

Sam Abraham died of cyanide poisoning at his Epping home in October last year, just three months after he was attacked in what police allege was an attempted murder.

After several months of sophisticated covert investigations, detectives have arrested his wife Sofia Sam and her lover alleging a poison plot, The Herald Sun reported.

All three hailed from Kerala.

The police have charged Arun Kamalasanan, 34, of Port Melbourne, with attempted murder and a separate charge of murder while 32-year-old Sofia Sam has been charged with murder.

In a hearing recently, Melbourne Magistrates' Court heard that police had intercepted phone calls throughout their covert probe and had about three months of phone recordings to transcribe.

In July last year, Abraham was also attacked and stabbed by a balaclava-clad man who had been hiding in the foot-well of his car at Lalor train station, leaving him with injuries to his neck, temple and cheek. Cable ties, material scraps and handcuffs were found in the car.

Police alleged Kamalasanan was the man in the balaclava.

The magistrate granted investigators extra time to transcribe phone conversations and prepare evidence.

The pair were remanded to reappear for a committal mention on February 13 next year

In July last year, Abraham was also attacked and stabbed by a balaclava-clad man who had been hiding in the foot-well of his car at Lalor train station, leaving him with injuries to his neck, temple and cheek. Cable ties, material scraps and handcuffs were found in the car.

Police alleged Kamalasanan was the man in the balaclava.

The magistrate granted investigators extra time to transcribe phone conversations and prepare evidence.

The pair were remanded to reappear for a committal mention on February 13 next year